1,800 doctors struck off payroll

Written By:Sylvester Ruto/Wathithi Kanai,    Posted: Fri, Sep 21, 2012

The doctors termed the offer by cabinet for 1.9 billion shillings as mere propaganda One thousand eight hundred doctors have been struck off the government payroll in the latest move by the government to stump its authority on the ongoing doctors' strike. This happened even as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists union-KMPD- insisted the strike will go on insisting that their cause is not necessarily about salaries but improving quality of service at the government hospitals. The union is now calling on labor organizations COTU and International labour organization- ILO- to help safe guard doctor's rights. The doctors termed the offer by cabinet for 1.9 billion shillings as mere propaganda as that money had already been issued and allocated last year. Addressing the press on Friday the union KMPPDU Chairman Victor Ng'ani maintained that the government still has no intention to give a solution to the problems crippling the health sector in the country. Ng'ani also dismissed decision by cabinet to sack striking doctors saying it was not realistic as the country faces a dire shortage of doctors.  The Union's secretary general Dr Were Onyino said accused the government for refusing to understand the matter at hand saying that the doctor's strike was mainly about improving the health sector in the country and not allowances contrary to the misconception. The union is calling for dialogue with the government to find a lasting solution on how to implement the Musyimi taskforce report as it touches on key elements such as infrastructure, medicines, equipment, health financing and staffing to serve the expanding Kenyans population plus emerging challenges in health care.